System and method for collecting media associated with a mobile device

ABSTRACT

A mobile device ( 104 ) interacts with a media collection system ( 102 ). The media collection system has a communication nodes ( 106 ) placed at various locations in a region, area, or facility where the mobile device may be carried by a user. The mobile device interacts ( 306 ) with the media collection system over a short range radio link ( 206 ) to request media collection service. The media collection system then uses media collection devices ( 107 ) in the same region, area, or facility as the communication nodes to record media, thereby producing a record of the user&#39;s experiences in the region, area, or facility. The collected media is stored on a database ( 112 ) which accessible by the user using an access identifier.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates in general to media collection systems and methods, and more particularly to the collection of media relating to a person's experiences while in the vicinity of the media collection system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

People come into contact with media collection systems in various settings, the most common of which may be so called security cameras in business establishments and in public venues. These systems include sensors to collect pictographic and sometimes audiographic information to record experiences and happenings in the vicinity of the media collection system. Typically the media collected by these systems are for the benefit of the owner or operator of the system. For example, video information may be recorded in a retail facility to help law enforcement authorities solve any crimes that may be committed on the premises. In fact, some law enforcement agencies use facial recognition to identify persons in public venues who may be of interest to the agency. The information collected is not typically shared with others, except, for example in situations where help is sought from the public in identifying persons whose image has been captured in the collected media. The information is not shared with directly with the people who appear in the collected media.

Presently, some researchers are conducting experiments which involve the “digitization” of a person's experiences. Sensors and other media collection devices are worn or carried by the person, and various data, images, video, and sounds may be recorded to form a record of the person's experiences, actions, interactions, as well as ambient conditions such as temperature, atmospheric pressure, and relative humidity. The amount of information collected may be quite substantial, and require somewhat bulky equipment to be worn or carried by the user, including the means to power the collection equipment. The collection of such information may be beneficial in many ways, such as, for example, helping a person to remember where they may have left an object, identifying people with whom the person interacted, the time of onset or changes of physiological conditions, and so on. People have generally avoided collecting a comprehensive media record of their experiences in part due to the limitations associated with the equipment necessary to do so. Instead, people generally choose to record only very significant experiences by use of hand held still image and video cameras, if at all.

Given that people often come into the purview of media collection systems, it would therefore be beneficial to allow people access to collected or recorded media in which they may appear. Furthermore, such media collection may be enhanced to a degree that people are willing to pay a reasonable fee to have their experiences recorded for them in certain situations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a block schematic diagram of a media collection system, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a block schematic diagram of mobile device for use with a media collection system, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart diagram of a method of collecting media, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart diagram of a method of collecting media, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 shows a flow chart diagram of a method of collecting media, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a block schematic diagram 100 of a media collection system 102, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The media collection system 102 works in conjunction with a mobile device 104 via a one or more wireless communication nodes 106. The communication nodes 106 allow wireless communication between appropriately equipped mobile devices and the media collection system. They are relatively low power, and may be designed to provide an air interface such as those provided by the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) specifications 802.15.1 and 802. 11. IEEE 802.15.1 is known more commonly by the trade name Bluetooth, while IEEE 802.11 is known as wireless local area network (WLAN), or wireless fidelity (WiFi). Numerous other air interfaces may exist or be created which will operate to allow communication between the communication nodes and mobile devices. The communication nodes are located in places where users of the mobile device will pass by within radio range of the communication node. It is preferred to use a low power interface, such as those of WiFi or Bluetooth because their low power provides better granularity in determining the location of mobile in the network of communication nodes. It is contemplated, however, that the communication nodes my be operated on a wide area network, such as cellular telephony networks. Similarly, the media collection system includes a plurality of media collection devices 107, such as cameras and microphones. The media collection devices and communication nodes are connected via network 108 to a media collection controller 110. The media collection controller 110 includes computer and data processing elements as well as memory and instruction code as appropriate, in accordance with the teachings herein. The media collection controller is further coupled to a database 112 or other mass storage media. The collected and digitized media is stored on the database. A server 114 allows access to the stored media via a data network 116 which may include public wide area data networks, such as the internet A user of the mobile device 104 may interface with the server 114 by using a computer 118 or other suitable equipment.

The communication nodes 106 and media collection devices are placed in locations where users may desire to have their experiences recorded. For example, the media collection system may be used to record the experiences of people in an amusement or theme park, retail and shopping facilities, sporting event venues, and so on. The communication nodes may be co-located with the media collection devices, or they may be placed in different places. Furthermore, there is no necessary correspondence between the number of communication nodes and the number of media collection devices used in the system. There may be several media collection devices in the vicinity of a given communication node, positioned at different angles, for example.

The media collection devices operate under control of the media collection controller, and send collected media to the controller for processing and storage in the database 112. The media collection device may collect media in a variety of formats, including still images, video clips, streaming video, and audio. The media collection devices may provide captured media to the media collection controller, or they may provide streamed media to the media collection controller which then harvests appropriate media from the streamed content. For example, the media collection device may be a video camera providing a live video feed to the media collection controller, and the media collection controller produces video clips or still images from the video feed.

In operation, the mobile device may be moved throughout the region covered by the network of communication nodes and media collection devices. As the mobile device moves, it comes into radio contact with different communication nodes, giving a general location of the mobile device. The mobile device may use, for example, a unique identifier so that it may be identified. As the mobile device moves from associating with one communication node to associating with the next communication node, such association changes are reported to the media collection controller 110. The media collection controller 110 maintains information as to which media collection devices 107 are in the vicinity of the communication node with which the mobile device is presently associated. The media collection controller may then collect media from those media collection devices in the vicinity of the mobile device.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a block schematic diagram of a mobile device 200, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Central to the operation of the mobile device 200 is a controller 202 which operates in accordance with instruction code stored in a memory 204. The instruction code causes the mobile device to operate in accordance with the teachings herein, and may facilitate additional operation and functions not discussed here. The mobile device includes a short range radio modem 206 which allows the mobile device to communicate with the communication nodes 106, and possible other devices if designed to operate according to any of the existing air interface standards. As mentioned the short range modem may be designed to operate according to IEEE specifications 802.15.1 or 802.11, as is known. Other specifications may be used equivalently. The mobile device uses the short range radio modem to both detect the presence of a communication node, as well communicate with the media collection system via the communication nodes. The mobile device may be, for example, a cellular telephone, and include a wide area radio modem 208 for communicating with cellular networks. The mobile device may further comprise a user interface 210, which includes control and interface elements to allow a user to interact with the mobile device, control its operation, and input to and receive information from the mobile device. For example, there may be provided a graphical display 212, a microphone 214, speaker 216, and keypad and other buttons 218. Furthermore it is contemplated that the mobile device may comprise a satellite positioning receiver 220, such as a global positioning satellite receiver, which allow the mobile device to determine its location. The location information may be reported over either the short range of the wide are radio modems, or both. In particular, the location information may be reported or provided to the media collection system to allow the media collection system to decide which media collection devices 107 are most appropriate to use for collecting media that will include the user of the mobile device. It is further contemplated that the mobile device may provide other information to the media collection system to facilitate the collection of media that includes the user of the mobile device. For example, an image of the user may be provided to the media collection system so that facial recognition may be used by the media collection system to identify the user via the media collection devices.

Referring now to FIG. 3 there is shown a flowchart diagram 300 of a method for collecting media, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. At the start 302, the mobile device is powered on and performing it's normal operations. The user of the mobile device brings it within a region covered by a media collection system. The mobile device then detects the presence of the media collection system 304. The detection of the media collection system may occur automatically, or it may be prompted by the user to search for the media collection system via the user interface 210. Upon detection of the media collection system, the mobile device commences negotiating for media collection service 306. The negotiation may include a request for service 308. In response to receiving the request, the media collection system selects an access identifier 310 to be used in association with collected media associated with the mobile device. The media collection system may set up a storage file or account directory 312 on the database 112. Media collected in association with the mobile device will be then be stored in the directory. The media collection system will also transmit the access identifier to the mobile device 314. The access identifier may be used by the user of the mobile device to access the collected media stored in the database and associated with the user's account or directory. The access identifier may take the form of a unique internet uniform resource locator (URL) which may be received and interpreted by the server 114 to access the collected media associated with the mobile device.

Once the negotiation is finished and the account or directory is set up the media collection system may then commence collecting media associated with the mobile device. Generally, the media collection system detects or determines the location of the mobile device 316. The location may be in the form of a geographic location coordinates, or it may simply be a mapping of the mobile device to the nearest media collection devices 107 or communication node 106. In one embodiment, for example, the media collection system may receive positioning coordinates from the mobile device if the mobile device has a satellite positioning receiver and can receive satellite positioning signals. Alternatively, the media collection system may use radio triangulation among communication nodes closest to the mobile device as determined, for example, by received radio signal strength. In another embodiment it is contemplated that facial recognition of the user of the mobile device may be used for location purposes. Facial recognition maybe facilitated by providing am image or facial recognition parameters corresponding to the user or persons associated with the user to the media collection system. The media collection system may then compare live video feeds against the received information and save media or flag feeds that match the information. Alternatively, the comparison maybe performed on stored media to determine the presence of the user or persons associated with user in the collected media.

Furthermore, it is contemplated that the mobile device may be a media collection device which performs self-collection activity. Once the media collection system has commenced media collection service, the mobile device may then cease the self-collection activity, for example, upon receiving the access identifier 314. By ceasing the self-collection activity, the mobile device will reduce energy consumption, conserving battery charge, and storage space on the device.

Once the location is determined, the media collection system correlates the location to one or more media collection devices in the vicinity of the mobile device 318. The media collection system then commences producing and collecting media 320. As used here, the term collecting media implies that the media is produced by the media collection system, such as through the use of cameras, sound recording devices, or any other device that may produce a record of the user's experience or environment, or both. Subsequently, the collected media is appropriately stored 322 in the system's database. The collected media may be collected and stored as a continuous stream of information, such as video, or it may be collected periodically or at opportune times.

The detection, correlation, collection, and storage steps may be repeated as needed. When the collection service is no longer necessary or needed, the method ends 324, leaving the collected media accessible to the user by use of the access identifier. The service may no longer be needed if, for example, the mobile device moves outside of the region serviced by the media collection system, or if the user decides to have the collecting ended. The collection system may confirm the cessation of collection activity by notification, at which time the mobile device may resume or commence a self-collection activity. It is contemplated that, while collecting the media, the system may time stamp or location stamp, or both, the collected media. That is, the time/location are recorded with the media. Furthermore, when the media is collected, the system may inform the mobile device of the collection activity, including the time information so that the user may track system activity.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a flow chart diagram 400 of a method collecting media in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The method illustrated is a more detailed example of steps 316-322 of FIG. 3. Upon determining the location of the mobile device 316, the system may determine the location of media collection devices in the vicinity of the mobile device 402. There are a number of different ways this may be performed. For example, the system may map specific collection devices to a given communication node. When the mobile device associates with the communication node, for radio communication, one or more collection devices associated with the communication node may be used to collect media. Alternatively, the system may make a finer location determination by use of location information received from the mobile device, or radio triangulation. Once the location of the mobile device and appropriate collection devices are determined, the system controller 110 may determine if a collection criteria is met 404. The collection criteria may include, for example, time since the last collection event, lighting conditions, facial recognition of the user, and so on. If the criteria isn't met, the method repeats, and may have to track the mobile device to other locations. If the collection criteria is met, the system commences collecting the appropriate media 406. In the initial negotiation for service the particular type of media to be collected may be established. The mobile device may request only still images be collected, or that video in addition to still images may be collected. Furthermore, the frequency of collection events may be established in the initial request negotiation. Each time media is collected, it is then stored 408 in the appropriate file, directory, or data structure where it may be later accessed and served to the user. Some collection systems, such as security systems, may simply flag certain recording as being of interest to, or associated with the user's access identifier so that subsequently the user, upon providing the access identifier, may be provided the specific recordings identified as being of interest.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a flow chart diagram 500 of a method of accessing collected media in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. At the start 502, the media is stored on the database 112 of the media collection system, and accessible by the server 114. The server receives a request 504 to access specific media stored on the database. The request includes the access identifier, which is verified by the server 506, 508. If the access identifier doesn't verify, the method terminates 516. The server may request re-submission of the access identifier and repeat the process. If the access identifier is verified, according to one embodiment of the invention, the server locates the media 510, and presents an interface 512 to the user. The interface allows the user to, for example, preview the collected media, and transfer selected files to the user's computer over the data network or internet 514.

It is further contemplated that the media collection system may simply constantly record media, and, up[on being accessed by a user, search the recorded media for media that includes or relates to the user. Facial recognition may be one way to identify media including the user, for example. Additionally, a log of the user's location over time may be provided to the media collection system to help the media collection system locate relevant media.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the invention is not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A method for collecting media content in cooperation with a mobile device, comprising: broadcasting the presence of a media collection system at a communication node via a wireless interface; receiving from the mobile device a media collection request via the wireless interface; providing an access identifier to the mobile device; collecting media in a vicinity of the mobile device; storing the media in the media collection system; and providing access to the media via a data network to a user of the mobile device when the user of the mobile device provides the access identifier to the media collection system.
 2. A method for collecting media content as defined in claim 1, wherein collecting pictographic media is performed in response to a collection criteria being met.
 3. A method for collecting media content as defined in claim 2, wherein the collection criteria includes recognizing a user of the mobile device via facial recognition.
 4. A method for collecting media content as defined in claim 2, wherein the collection criteria includes an elapsed time from a previous media collection.
 5. A method for collecting media content as defined in claim 1, further comprising determining a location of the mobile device, and wherein collecting media in the vicinity of the mobile device is performed with the benefit of the present location of the device.
 6. A method for collecting media content as defined in claim 5, wherein determining the present location of the mobile device is performed by receiving positioning information from the mobile device.
 7. A method for collecting media content as defined in claim 5, wherein determining the present location of the mobile device is performed by radio triangulation of the mobile device in relation to a plurality of communication nodes of the media collection system.
 8. A method for collecting media content as defined in claim 5, wherein determining the present location of the mobile device is performed by recognizing a user of the mobile device via facial recognition.
 9. A method for collecting media content as defined in claim 1, wherein providing the access identifier comprises providing a unique uniform resource locator to the mobile device.
 10. A method for collecting media content as defined in claim 1, wherein collecting media in the vicinity of the mobile device comprises stamping the media with at least one of a time stamp or a location stamp.
 11. A method for collecting media associated with a user of a mobile device, comprising: detecting a media collection system via a radio interface of the mobile device by receiving a broadcast signal from a communication node of the media collection system; requesting a media collection service of the media collection system by the mobile device; receiving an access identifier at the mobile device, the access identifier provided by the media collection system for accessing media collected by the media collection system; and ceasing a self-collection activity at the mobile device while in the vicinity of the media collection system.
 12. A method for collecting media defined in claim 11, further comprising, resuming self-collection activity upon leaving the vicinity of the media collection system.
 13. A method for collecting media defined in claim 12, wherein resuming self-collection is further performed in response to receiving notification from the media collection system that the mobile device is no longer in the vicinity of the media collection system.
 14. A method for collecting media defined in claim 11, further comprising providing location information to the media collection system upon ceasing the self collection activity.
 15. A method for collecting media defined in claim 14, further comprising deriving the location information by use of a satellite positioning receiver of the mobile device.
 16. A method for collecting media defined in claim 11, further comprising providing user identification information to the media collection system.
 17. A method for collecting media defined in claim 16, wherein providing user identification information includes providing facial recognition information including at least one of an image of the a user of the mobile device or facial recognition parameters derived from an image of the user of the mobile device. 